Jobs and Economy

President Joe Biden is the final stop for legislation that the House passed Thursday, July 28, to boost federal aid for semiconductor manufacturing and research.

The legislation (HR 4346) also contains other provisions sought by U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici of Beaverton to deal with ocean acidification, regional energy innovation and education in science, technology, engineering, the arts and math.

"It's hard for students to learn when they are hungry," Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon Democrat who introduced the legislation with Scott, said in a statement. "By updating the child nutrition laws, Congress can get children the healthy meals they need to learn and grow," she said.

Drawing on lessons from the coronavirus pandemic, the measure — drafted by Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-Va.), chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor, and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), the Civil Rights/Human Services subcommittee chair — would make it easier for the USDA to respond to emergencies, giving it authority to lift onerous requirements in times of crisis.

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Oregon) hosted a roundtable on hunger Friday, asking advocates from local and state organizations in Oregon about the region's level of hunger and recent efforts to address food insecurity. Bonamici acknowledged the recently signed Keep Kids Fed Act, which extends flexibility for meal programs operating this summer and next school year.

Many Oregonians are facing food insecurity, an ongoing and widespread problem — and one that advocates say is only set to get worse, as more emergency measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic expire.

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici hosted a virtual roundtable Friday, July 8, on food insecurity in Oregon.